RADIO
Aaron Jones Sr. Could Land in Smaller Role
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. is expected to work in a timeshare this season in his team's backfield, but he could be in a smaller role than expected since his teammate Jordan Mason has been shining throughout preseason and training camp. Jones restructured his deal this offseason after posting 548 rushing yards and 199 receiving yards with three total touchdowns last year. The 31-year-old running back will still be involved, but he could be limited, with Mason taking more of the lead. Jones does still have value and is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 44 RB, but Mason is No. 35 in those rankings and seems to be on the rise, making Jones a higher-risk pick best left as a deep-league option or backup emergency fill-in.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tanook Hines Listed As Co-Starter For Week 1
USC wide receiver Tanook Hines (undisclosed) is listed as a co-starter heading into the Week 1 matchup against Fresno State. The sophomore wide receiver missed Week 0 due to the same undisclosed injury he's been dealing with all of spring training. Hines showed promise last year as a true freshman, hauling in 34 receptions for 561 yards and two touchdowns. However, Hines dominated down the stretch for USC; he caught six passes for 141 yards and one touchdown in a blowout loss against Oregon, and then against TCU in the Valero Alamo Bowl, he caught six passes for 163 yards. Fresno State bolstered an impressive pass defense last season, allowing only 153.8 pass yards per game. Fresno State ranked 113th in strength of schedule last season, and their only P4 opponent last year was Kansas. Although Hines has big upside if he's active, his injury concern makes him risky.
Source: Keely Eure of 247sports.com
Source: Keely Eure of 247sports.com
Domantas Sabonis Emerges as Prime Trade Candidate in Sacramento
ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Anthony Slater report that the Sacramento Kings are not interested in extending forward/center Domantas Sabonis, leaving him positioned as a prime trade candidate. Sabonis has two fully guaranteed years and $94 million left on his deal, including $45.4 million this season and $48.6 million next season, which makes finding a trade partner the hard part. The three-time All-Star played only 19 games last season before left meniscus surgery, averaging 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. Drafting Domantas Sabonis means buying elite rebounding with health and trade noise attached. Maxime Raynaud would be the main fantasy name to watch if Sacramento moves him, though Dylan Cardwell also remains in the backup-center mix.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Kings Eyeing Jalen Duren in 2027 Free Agency
ESPN's Anthony Slater reports that Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry met with Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren in early July and explored a sign-and-trade concept involving Domantas Sabonis. Detroit balked at losing Duren for Sabonis, leaving the Kings with no clean path unless Duren accepts his $9.6 million qualifying offer and reaches unrestricted free agency in 2027. The 22-year-old is coming off an All-Star, Third-Team All-NBA season, averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 65.0 percent shooting across 70 starts. His 2026-27 fantasy outlook stays tied to Detroit for now, where he projects as the starting center if he re-signs or plays on the qualifying offer. Sacramento's interest says more about Domantas Sabonis' uncertain future than Duren's immediate fantasy outlook.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Travis Kelce Looks Strong in Training Camp
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has looked locked in and ready to post another strong season, according to reports from Chiefs' camp. Last year, in a down year by his elite standards, Kelce racked up 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns on 108 targets. He has finished with over 100 targets in 11 consecutive seasons, and the Chiefs return most of the same pass-catching options this year. In great news for Kelce's fantasy outlook, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) looks like he'll be ready for Week 1, so Kelce can continue his elite chemistry, serving as Mahomes' go-to option. He may not have the ceiling that he provided earlier in his career, but it looks like the veteran still has enough in the tank to bring great value at his current ADP. He's being drafted as a low-end TE1 option in most drafts and is RotoBaller's No. 11 TE. In that spot, he brings a high floor and good upside if he bounces back from last year's slightly reduced totals.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Khalifa Diop Signs Four-Year Deal with Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers signed center Khalifa Diop to a standard contract Wednesday, ending the draft-and-stash wait that began when Cleveland selected him 39th overall in 2022. The deal is worth $9.26 million over four years, with only the $1.36 million first-year salary fully guaranteed, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. Diop averaged 3.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 47 games for Baskonia last season while shooting 67.0 percent from the field. He also was part of Baskonia's 2026 Copa del Rey-winning roster. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen still control Cleveland's frontcourt, while Thomas Bryant gives the Cavaliers a veteran reserve center. Diop is off fantasy radars unless injuries open a deeper bench role.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Matthew Golden Brings Breakout Potential in Expanded Role
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden is set for a larger role in the Packers' offense this season and could be a late-round sleeper with true breakout potential. Last year, as a rookie, the first-round pick from Texas totaled 29 catches for 361 receiving yards. He scored his first NFL touchdown in the team's playoff game against the Bears, finishing with four catches for 84 yards and a score. After inconsistent playing time, Golden is locked into a top-three role on the Packers for this year after the team traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Eagles and watched Romeo Doubs sign with the Patriots as a free agent. Golden should be locked into three-wide sets alongside Jayden Reed and Christian Watson. As an outside threat with breakaway speed, Golden could be a big-play-reliant starting option in deep leagues based on his more consistent role. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 44 WR in PPR leagues, and he's a solid late-round option to consider as you build depth into your receiving corps. The first-round pick has plenty of upside, even though he remains unproven, and he is therefore a high-risk, high-reward sleeper to target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Timberwolves Hiring Daniel Brady as Assistant Coach
The Minnesota Timberwolves are hiring Daniel Brady as an assistant coach, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. Brady spent last season with the G-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers after three seasons on Tom Thibodeau's staff in New York, with earlier stops in Oklahoma City, Atlanta, and Houston. The hire helps fill the bench after lead assistant Micah Nori left to become Portland's head coach. A player-development voice is worth noting for Jonathan Kuminga, who arrives on a two-year, $12.4 million deal, and second-year big Joan Beringer, but neither becomes a fantasy priority off this move alone. Anthony Edwards remains the Wolves' clear anchor after averaging a career-best 28.8 points on 39.9 percent shooting from deep last season.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Dabo Swinney Lacking Confidence in Christopher Vizzina?
Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina will be starting Saturday's season opener in Death Valley against LSU. The redshirt senior has spent every year of his college career with Clemson. He's thrown for 595 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception, with a 61% completion rate over his career. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney did not sound confident when he joined Stephen A. Smith on SiriusXM when he said, "The quarterback is the big question. I mean, you know, and we're all gonna see it in real time. Chris is gonna be our starter, and he earned the job, and he won it, but we have another kid that's right there". Last season, Clemson had a disappointing season despite having a future NFL quarterback running their offense. Clemson averaged 267.8 passing yards per game last season but only scored 27.2 points per game. Vizzina is ranked as RotoBaller's QB57 for Week 1.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Rico Scott, Derek Meadows Expected to Both Factor Into Alabama's Offense
Wide receivers Rico Scott and Derek Meadows are both expected to be in the offensive mix for Alabama, according to head coach Kalen DeBoer. The coach added that Scott would "probably get the nod" to start as WR3, so he might have the edge in fantasy upside. The Crimson Tide opens their season on Saturday against East Carolina. Scott had 11 catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns a season ago, while Meadows is still looking for his first collegiate production. In a favorable matchup on Saturday, Scott or Meadows could help separate themselves as the leader for that WR3 role going forward. Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks are the other projected starting wideouts for Alabama. Those two produced some numbers for last year's team, and they are expected to lead the wideout room for the coming season.
Source: Mike Rodak - 247Sports
Source: Mike Rodak - 247Sports
Jovantae Barnes Not Expected to Play in Week 1
Kentucky running back Jovantae Barnes (undisclosed) isn't likely to play in Week 1. Head coach Will Stein added that he anticipates Barnes will be back in the mix in the near future. Barnes was expected to play a role for the Wildcats after transferring in after a four-year run with Oklahoma. He had a pair of 500-yard rushing seasons with the Sooners, but also had two years where he failed to reach 40 carries. Last season, he rushed just 19 times for 45 yards and a touchdown, while catching a pass for 16 yards. With Barnes likely out, expect CJ Baxter to power the Kentucky backfield against Youngstown State. Jason Patterson and Martels Carter Jr. are a couple more running backs who could pick up the slack if Barnes doesn't suit up. His absence hurts the offense a bit, but the Wildcats should still have no trouble taking down the Penguins.
Source: 247Sports
Source: 247Sports
Rhamondre Stevenson Gaining Steam as the No. 1 RB for Patriots
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson appears to be poised to lead the New England Patriots' backfield in the early part of the 2026 season as fellow tailback TreVeyon Henderson remains sidelined with an ankle injury he suffered on Aug. 24. Mike Reiss of ESPN reported on Aug. 31 that Henderson had not yet been cleared for a return to full participation, and he did not practice on Sept. 1. Meanwhile, Stevenson, who has drawn praise throughout training camp, continues to practice and seems to be the front-runner for No. 1 running back duties in New England. Stevenson is carrying momentum from the 2025 postseason, where he out-carried Henderson 58-30 and out-rushed Henderson by a tally of 217 yards to 76. While Henderson could be ready for Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, Stevenson is currently in the driver's seat for a larger workload. Stevenson's current Yahoo ADP of 78.1 is good value, as he ranks as RotoBaller's No. 58 overall player and No. 23 running back in half-PPR leagues.
Source: Mike Reiss
Source: Mike Reiss
Juwan Johnson Has a Clear Path to Early-Season Targets
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson should see an uptick in targets early this season as he helps to fill the void of wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring). Johnson was a wide receiver in college, so even though he's a tight end now, he remains a legitimate receiving threat with impressive size and athleticism. While the coaching staff is high on Devaughn Vele, there's a very legitimate chance that Johnson ranks second on the team in targets (behind Chris Olave) for the duration of Tyson's absence. Tyson is expected to be sidelined through late October, setting up Johnson to see enough targets for him to rank as a low-end TE1. There's certainly precedent here, as Johnson was the overall TE8 while playing in a similar-looking offense last year. It's also encouraging that he performed better with Tyler Shough as his quarterback (11.5 PPR points per game) than with Spencer Rattler (9.5 PPR points per game). Johnson currently has an ADP of 146.3, which corresponds to the 13th round and makes him the 16th tight end off the board.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Daniel Jones Fully Healthy and Undervalued in Drafts
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has fully recovered from last season's Achilles injury, but it doesn't look like his ADP has completely adjusted yet. As it stands, Jones has an ADP of 174.7, which corresponds to the 15th round and makes him the 23rd quarterback off the board. That seems to be a slightly pessimistic evaluation of the 29-year-old, who ranked as the QB7 in total points before getting injured last year. Even if Jones doesn't quite replicate his QB7 ranking this year, he's still a reasonable candidate to finish among the top 12 quarterbacks in fantasy football. Therefore, now that he's fully healthy, he's somewhat of a steal at his current price tag. He stands to benefit from a strong supporting cast, including Keenan Allen, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, Tyler Warren, and Jonathan Taylor.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zachariah Branch Off the Fantasy Radar Entirely?
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch is not expected to have a starting role in Week 1, and his low position on the depth chart likely takes him off the redraft radar entirely. The Falcons' latest depth chart lists Branch with the second-team offense, likely putting him in the No. 4 or No. 5 receiver role. He's penciled in behind Drake London, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Jahan Dotson, as well as potentially Chris Blair. Branch was a third-round pick, so it's not a total shock to see him lower on the depth chart to open his career. With that said, he caught 81 passes at Georgia last year, so we know that he can produce against a strong caliber of opponent. Nevertheless, it looks like fantasy managers will have to be patient with Branch, who is likely headed for a more consistent role on special teams than on offense. He caught just four passes for 21 yards in the preseason, and he has fallen to WR81 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
